American Airlines wants to know about your friends

[Derek Meister]

Why is American Airlines gathering written dossiers on fliers' friends?

Last week on a trip from London to the US, American Airlines demanded that I write out a list of the names and addresses of all the friends I would be staying with in the USA. They claimed that this was due to a TSA regulation, but refused to state which regulation required them to gather this information, nor what they would do with it once they'd gathered it. I raised a stink, and was eventually told that I wouldn't have to give them the requested dossier because I was a Platinum AAdvantage Card holder (e.g., because I fly frequently with AA).

(continued (http://www.boingboing.net/2005/01/19/why_is_american_airl.html))

How long until there's a multiple-choice quiz followed by an essay section you have to pass before you're allowed on an airline?

[Midnight Son]

Vere your papers in order? Iff your papers are not in order, zer vill be trouble!

[shang]

How long until there's a multiple-choice quiz followed by an essay section you have to pass before you're allowed on an airline?

You mean like the travel visa application you have to fill when travelling from Europe to US? Best part is that it actually has (or had a few years ago) questions like "I'm travelling to US in order to take part in illegal activities: Yes [ ] No [ ]" and "I have been involved in a genocide: Yes [ ] No [ ]".

[Nick Walter]

How long until there's a multiple-choice quiz followed by an essay section you have to pass before you're allowed on an airline?

You mean like the travel visa application you have to fill when travelling from Europe to US? Best part is that it actually has (or had a few years ago) questions like "I'm travelling to US in order to take part in illegal activities: Yes [ ] No [ ]" and "I have been involved in a genocide: Yes [ ] No [ ]".

Heh, I've never seen that one. I have had to fill out forms on airplanes before (customs forms) to get entry into foreign countries. These forms asked questions like purpose of the visit, address I'd be staying at in the country, etc. I suspect all that AA was doing was trying to get the right data for the customs people as efficiently as possible.

[svenr]

You mean like the travel visa application you have to fill when travelling from Europe to US? Best part is that it actually has (or had a few years ago) questions like "I'm travelling to US in order to take part in illegal activities: Yes [ ] No [ ]" and "I have been involved in a genocide: Yes [ ] No [ ]".

It still did when I traveled to NY last October. This must be my favourite yes/no question ever:

http://www.stash.cistron.nl/piccies/welcometerrorist.jpg

[extarbags]

You mean like the travel visa application you have to fill when travelling from Europe to US? Best part is that it actually has (or had a few years ago) questions like "I'm travelling to US in order to take part in illegal activities: Yes [ ] No [ ]" and "I have been involved in a genocide: Yes [ ] No [ ]".

It still did when I traveled to NY last October. This must be my favourite yes/no question ever:

http://www.stash.cistron.nl/piccies/welcometerrorist.jpg

Hrm. I wonder how many Nuremberg prosecutors and former soldiers who liberated concentration camps have been arrested because they answered "yes" to that one.

[svenr]

Hrm. I wonder how many Nuremberg prosecutors and former soldiers who liberated concentration camps have been arrested because they answered "yes" to that one.

On the plus side, just think of all the spies and terrorists that have been caught using a simple questionnaire.

[Derek Meister]

Probably as many mobsters who've been caught putting an actual number in that spot on their IRS tax forms where you're supposed to report illegally gained income.